How Much Emergency Water Do You Really Need? A Family-by-Family Breakdown
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Introduction: When it comes to emergency preparedness, few resources are as vital — or as overlooked — as water. You might have a closet full of canned food and a generator on standby, but without enough clean drinking water, your preparedness plan is incomplete.
Why Water is Your #1 Priority
Your body can survive without food for weeks, but only a few days without water. In a crisis, municipal water systems can be contaminated or cut off.
The Short Answer: 1 Gallon per Person, per Day
That’s the FEMA baseline. But it barely covers drinking and hygiene. Cooking, pets, and sanitation require more.
Water Use Case Breakdown
| Activity | Daily Gallons Needed |
|---|---|
| Drinking | 0.5 – 1 |
| Cooking | 0.25 – 0.5 |
| Hygiene | 0.5 – 1 |
| Pets | 0.5 per medium dog |
| Toilet flushing | 2 – 4 (optional) |
Household Planning Scenarios
- Single adult (1 week): 7–14 gallons
- Couple (1 week): 14–28 gallons
- Family of 4 (2 weeks): 56–112 gallons
- Add 1 gallon per day per dog
Try our water storage calculator.
How Long Should You Plan For?
- Short-term: 3 days minimum
- Boil advisory or outages: 1–2 weeks
- Disaster prep: 1 month+
Choosing the Right Water Tank Size
- 35–50 Gallons: Apartments/small homes
- 160–260 Gallons: Families
- 500–1000+ Gallons: Homesteads or farms
Water Treatment Tips
- Use water preserver drops
- Rotate every 6–12 months
- Label tanks with fill dates
Where to Store Your Emergency Water
Store in cool, dark places, avoid sunlight, and keep off floors using pallets or platforms.
Conclusion
Don’t guess. Use our calculator, get the right tank, and store with confidence.